Month: March 2020

Categories
Water

Impact Water

Nigeria

  • Population: 237.5 million 
  • Population living below the poverty line of USD 4.20 per person per day: 64.02% in 2022 (The World Bank) 
  • About 31.5% of Nigeria’s population does not have access to a safe drinking water source. This percentage represents more than 60 million people. (source) 
Play video

This video was filmed in 2023; the figures have since changed.

Impact Water: Drinking water at school—an engine for children’s health 

In many African countries, public schools do not have access to safe drinking water. Children are exposed to major health risks, including waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, which impact their health, concentration, and school attendance. 

Impact Water offers a simple, scalable solution: point-of-use water treatment systems installed directly in schools, accompanied by hygiene trainings and frequent system maintenance. The goal is to improve student health and empower schools to provide reliable access to safe drinking water throughout the school year. 

After several years of activity and expertise development in Uganda, Impact Water launched its operations in Nigeria in 2017. 

The company works with the education and health ministries to equip schools and universities with chlorine-based water treatment units for free. 

Its business model historically has been based on the sale of carbon credits, as its partner schools no longer need to boil water to make it safe to drink. However, the venture is now also raising grant funding to increase sustainability and global scaling. 

In 2024, Impact Water reached a new milestone: more than 39,000 schools are now equipped with the water treatment systems in Nigeria, providing over 11 million children with access to safe drinking water every day. 

>>> To learn more: Safe Drinking Water for Schools in Africa | Impact Water 

The impact of Impact Water on health, and beyond: 

Danone Communities supports Impact Water to improve the health of children in schools, in line with our health mission and commitment to impact-driven ventures. The results are tangible: 

  • Reduction in waterborne diseases among children 
  • Improved school attendance thanks to better health 
  • Strengthening of hygiene practices in schools 
  • Sustainable business model based on innovative financing 

How Danone Communities actively supports Impact Water, some concrete examples: 

  • Patient financial support: Danone Communities invested in Impact Water to support its development and expansion. 
  • Technical assistance: Our teams contributed to the optimization of the operational model and impact measurement. 
  • Highlighting the model: Impact Water is regularly showcased as a replicable solution for access to drinking water in schools. 
  • Strategic networking: We facilitate connections with donors to support the expansion of the program. 

By supporting Impact Water, Danone Communities helps provide access to safe drinking water for vulnerable populations and takes concrete action to positively impact health worldwide, as part of Danone’s mission. 

11,600,000

children impacted in Nigeria

39,000

schools equipped

Adaeze

Teacher, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

“Teaching was always my passion, even as a young girl I was tutoring my younger siblings and neighbours’ kids. Before Impact Water was available in my school, boiling was the only tool we had to provide drinking water for my students. The school struggled with the cost of firewood as well as the hours lost to the chore of boiling water. I was searching for sustainable solutions until I met Zacch, CEO of Impact Water Nigeria, who offered a water treatment system my school could afford.

I would recommend to all of the schools to install the Impact Water system. Before our students had a lot of problems with stomach pain, diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases. Now with Impact Water we have safe drinking water always available in the school. Kids can take water whenever they are thirsty and they do not miss class due to waterborne disease anymore.”

Photos by Impact Water

Categories
Water

Jibu

Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.

  • Population: 357 million 
  • Population below the poverty line of $4.20 per person per day; in Ghana for example: 64.02% in 2022 (The World Bank) 
  • Only one in four people in Africa has access to a source of safe drinking water (Source) 
Play video

This video was filmed in 2018, the figures have since changed.

Jibu: Drinking water, a driver of economic and social impact in Africa 

Across the African continent, more than 400 million people do not have access to safe and affordable drinking water (Source: UNICEF 2022). In urban and peri-urban areas, centralized solutions are often unsuitable, expensive, or inaccessible for low-income populations. 

Jibu offers an innovative response to this challenge: a network of franchised water kiosks, which filter and sell drinking water in reusable bottles. This model helps create local jobs, strengthen economic empowerment, and improve community health. 

A high-impact entrepreneurial model: 

Founded in 2012 by Galen Welsch and Randy Welsch, Jibu now operates in eight African countries: Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Burundi, and Ghana. 

Jibu, which means “solution” in Swahili, aims to create jobs and impact health by selling affordable drinking water through a franchise system of micro-enterprises. It also sells other essential goods (fortified porridge and cooking gas (LPG)). 

Jibu selects franchisees (entrepreneurs), provides water filtration systems, trains them, and develops marketing campaigns.  

The franchisee then operates the water kiosk under the Jibu brand, creates local demand, and manages their team. 

The impact of Jibu: 

Danone Communities has supported Jibu since 2019, in line with our health mission, our commitment to innovation, and our vision for impact-driven business. The results are tangible: 

  • +260,000 downstream beneficiaries as of end of 2024 (+21% vs. April 2023) 
  • 1,274 upstream beneficiaries, including franchisees and local resellers 
  • Creation of local jobs through the franchise model 
  • Diversification of income with the sale of complementary products (fortified flour, banking services) 

How Danone Communities actively supports Jibu, some concrete examples: 

  • Patient investment: Danone Communities has invested in Jibu through shares and convertible bonds to support its growth and financial structuring 
  • Technical assistance: Our teams support Jibu in optimizing its business model and structuring its operations 
  • Model promotion: Regularly highlighting Jibu as a high-impact Safe Water Enterprise 

By supporting Jibu, Danone Communities helps provide access to safe drinking water for vulnerable populations and takes concrete action to positively impact health around the world, in line with Danone’s mission. 

260,000

people impacted in 2024

226

kiosks

Ivan

Jibu Entrepreneur, Kampala, Uganda

“I was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda. I’ve always been involved in my local community and am very well aware of the challenges of unemployment and lack of access to safe drinking water.

I am an old friend of Randy Welsch, co-founder of Jibu, and when one bright afternoon Randy explained his idea of water kiosks to me, I was very excited to become part of this great story. Jibu gave me everything I needed to start a successful business – start-up capital, state of the art technology, and expert business advice.

Becoming a Jibu franchisee brought me regular income to support my family and brought to the neighbourhood affordable safe drinking water just steps from their home. As the business is growing I needed a helping hand. This was a great opportunity to generate jobs for people in my community and to bring positive change.” 

Photos by Sandro di Carlo Darsa